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reprint of COLORADO RAPIDS NEWS RELEASE -- byline Ben Grossman

NEWS RELEASE

RAPIDS SELECT NCAA GOALS PER GAME LEADER ANDREW MITTENDORF
WITH FIRST-ROUND PICK IN COLLEGE DRAFT

NEPHEW OF FORMER DENVER BRONCOS
SAFETY RANDY POLTL CHOSEN IN SECOND ROUND

DENVER (Sunday, February 7, 1999) - The Colorado Rapids bolstered their
attack Sunday when they selected forward Andrew Mittendorf out of Lehigh
with their first pick (#8 overall) in the 1999 Major League Soccer
College Entry Draft in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Mittendorf led the NCAA
in goals per game (1.33), scoring 24 times in only 18 outings in his
senior campaign at Lehigh.

With their second-round choice, the Rapids then drafted midfielder Tom
Poltl out of UCLA. Poltl is the nephew of former Denver Broncos
defensive back Randy Poltl. The Rapids then took defender Bobby Meyer
out of Dartmouth in the third and final round.

Colorado then took four players in the three-round 1999 MLS Supplemental
Draft. The Rapids added midfielders Kevin Anderson and Darren Sawatzky
in the first round, before selecting GK David Winner and defender Tim
Martin in the second and third rounds, respectively.

Mittendorf, a 6-0, 170 lb. striker, was a two-time Patriot League
Offensive Player of the Year. The Southbury, Connecticut, native
amassed an impressive 43 goals and 20 assists in 84 games over his
four-year career, despite playing his freshman and sophomore seasons as
a midfielder.

Poltl was a four-year starter at midfield for the UCLA Bruins,
collecting 13 goals and 16 assists over his 82 games. The 5-6, 145 lb.
midfielder is the nephew of Randy Poltl, a former free safety with the
Denver Broncos (1975-1977) and the Minnesota Vikings.

Meyer is a 6-0, 180 lb. defender from Dartmouth. Originally from Long
Island, N.Y., he will compete for a spot in the Rapids' already-crowded
back line.

Anderson spent 1998 with the Minnesota Thunder, the 1998
runners-up to the A-League championship. The midfielder scored 11 goals
and added 4 assists over 34 games as the Thunder lost in the final to
the Rochester Rhinos.

Sawatzky, a flank midfielder known for his torrid pace, has been
in MLS since 1996, playing last season with the Dallas Burn after
spending the first two years with the New England Revolution.

Winner is a goalkeeper who was most recently with the Miami
Fusion, before that spending more than two seasons with the Columbus
Crew.

Martin has spent the past three seasons with the San Jose Clash,
playing 83 games with San Jose before being released following the 1998
season.

1999 COLLEGE SELECTIONS

ANDREW MITTENDORF

FORWARD
LEHIGH
6-0, 170 lbs.
SOUTHBURY, CT
1st ROUND -- #8 OVERALL

CAREER STATS: 84 GAMES - 43 GOALS - 20 ASSISTS - 106 POINTS
* Two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year
* 1998 Regional All-American
* 1.33 Goals Per Game Led NCAA in 1998
* Holds Patriot League records for goals in a game (4), points in
a game (8), goals in a season (24), points in a season (49), career
goals (43) and career points (106).
* Recruited as a defender, played freshman season in defense and
sophomore year in midfield before moving up to forward for final two
years.

RAPIDS COACH GLENN MYERNICK: "I am thrilled to get Andrew at the number
eight spot. He is a big forward who has scored a lot of goals since
becoming a forward just two years ago. He has good speed and I'm
looking forward to see him at the MLS level."

TOM POLTL

MIDFIELDER
UCLA
5-6, 145 lbs.
SAN MARCOS, CA
2nd ROUND -- #20 OVERALL

CAREER STATS: 82 GAMES -- 13 GOALS - 16 ASSISTS - 42 POINTS
* Member of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team pool along with
Joey DiGiamarino.
* Earned a starting role immediately his freshman year.
* His play was a crucial part of UCLA's NCAA win over Indiana in
1997.
* Uncle is Randy Poltl, former defensive back with the Denver
Broncos and Minnesota Vikings.

RAPIDS COACH GLENN MYERNICK: "He is a proven winner who can play at
several positions. What we really liked about him was his versatility,
he's a good athlete and he can help us in a couple different spots."

* Named All-Ivy League three times.
* Considered one of the top central defenders in NCAA Division One
soccer.
* Scored one goal his senior season.
* His size and strength will allow him to compete for a spot in
the Rapids' already-crowded ranks of defenders.

RAPIDS COACH GLENN MYERNICK: "He continues to play better and better.
He's a solid defender who can play in the middle of a four-man back
line, and he can also play out at right back if needed. We like his
size and mobility and are anxious to get him into camp."

1999 SUPPLEMENTAL SELECTIONS

KEVIN ANDERSON

* Anderson joined the Thunder in 1998 after spending the previous
four seasons with the A-League's Long Island Rough Riders.
* Co-captain and second on team in goals (seven) and third in
points
(16) while playing in 26 of 28 regular-season games.
* Started all six playoff games and played every minute. Led
Minnesota in playoff scoring (3-2-8).
* Named All-America twice at Division II Southern Connecticut
State.

GP/GS MIN G A PTS
1998 STATS 34/31 2917 11 4 26

RAPIDS COACH GLENN MYERNICK: "We were surprised when he was available,
we consider him the top central midfielder available in this draft.
He's a tireless worker with great skill and composure."